Information processing system and method, and server for use in the system

A client sends input information of an external device to a server to make a demand for processing, and receives output information from the server to output to the external device. The client initializes the I/O unit based on initialization information received from the server. The server sends initialization information of the external device upon reception of a demand for connection from the client, and, in connection, processes input information received from the client to send output information to the client. The server manages connection with the client, and when communication with the client ceases on the server, interrupts processing of the application processing unit to hold the status at interruption and the output information to the client. when communication with the client resumes, the server resends the initialization information to the client for initialization and resumes the processing of the application processing unit and the sending of the output information.